Angkor Zipline in Siem Reap

When most travelers think of Siem Reap, the majestic temples of Angkor Wat often take center stage. But there’s so much more to this vibrant destination than ancient ruins. For those looking to experience the authentic heart of Cambodia, we invite you to step off the beaten path and dive into a world of unforgettable local experiences. Here are three activities you can enjoy during your stay with us that reveal the charm and beauty of Siem Reap’s countryside and culture.

🚴‍♀️ Ride a Bicycle Through the Countryside

There’s no better way to slow down and truly connect with the rhythms of rural life than by riding a bicycle through the countryside. Just a short ride from the city center, the landscape opens up into lush rice paddies, sugar palm trees, and traditional stilted homes.

As you pedal along the red dirt roads, you’ll pass smiling farmers working the fields, curious children waving hello, and peaceful lotus ponds glistening in the sun. Whether you go with a guide or explore on your own, biking is a wonderful way to witness everyday Cambodian life, far from the tourist crowds.

Tip: Early mornings or late afternoons are ideal for cycling to avoid the heat and catch the golden light over the fields — perfect for photography lovers!

🥘 Join a Traditional Khmer Cooking Class

What better way to take a piece of Cambodia home with you than through its flavors? A Khmer cooking class is a hands-on way to discover the secrets behind Cambodia’s rich and aromatic cuisine.

Begin your experience by visiting a local market to shop for fresh herbs, spices, and seasonal produce. Then, under the guidance of a local chef, you’ll learn how to prepare classic dishes like Amok (a fragrant fish curry steamed in banana leaves), Nom Banh Chok (Khmer noodles), or spring rolls. Best of all, you’ll get to enjoy the fruits of your labor in a beautiful garden setting or traditional wooden house.

It’s more than just cooking – it’s a cultural journey that connects you to Cambodia’s heritage through taste, storytelling, and shared tradition.

🐃 Take an Ox Cart Ride Through the Village

For a truly unique and peaceful experience, consider a traditional ox cart tour. This slow-paced journey takes you through charming villages and rice fields in the most authentic way – just like the locals did for centuries.

Riding in a wooden cart pulled by gentle oxen, you’ll have the chance to observe the daily lives of rural families, stop to meet local artisans or farmers, and soak in the stunning simplicity of the Cambodian countryside. It’s a perfect activity for families, couples, or anyone seeking a serene and memorable adventure.

Fun Fact: Ox carts are still used in many rural areas, especially during harvest time  riding one is like stepping back in time!

អាណាចក្រខ្មែរ គឺជាសម័យ មួយ ដែល មានភាព រុងរឿង បំផុត ក្នុងប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រ ជាតិខ្មែរ។  ដោយសារហេតុ ដែលខ្មែរ មានដែនដី ធំធេង និងវិសាលភាពយ៉ាងច្រើន អាណាចក្រខ្មែរ ត្រូវបានហៅថា “មហាអាណាចក្រខ្មែរ”។ ប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្ររបស់ អាណាចក្រ នេះត្រូវបាន ចងក្រង និងរក្សាទុក តាមរយៈសិលាចារឹក និង សាស្ត្រា ស្លឹករឹត។

សាស្ត្រាស្លឹករឹត គឺជាគម្ពីរ ឬអត្ថបទបុរាណដែលត្រូវបានចារនៅលើស្លឹករឹត។ ស្លឹករឹតគឺជាស្លឹករបស់ដើមទ្រាំង ដែលមានប្រភពមកពីភាគខាងកើត និងខាងជើងនៃប្រទេសឥណ្ឌា និងស្រីលង្កា។ នៅក្នុងតំបន់អាស៊ីអាគ្នេយ៍ ដើមទ្រាំងនេះអាចរកឃើញនៅប្រទេសកម្ពុជា ថៃ និងភូមា។ នៅប្រទេសកម្ពុជា ដើមទ្រាំងមានច្រើននៅខេត្តក្រចេះ និងកំពង់ធំ។

សម្ដេចព្រះសង្ឃរាជ ជួនណាត បានពន្យល់ថា ពាក្យ “សាស្ត្រា” ក្នុងភាសាបាលី និងសំស្ក្រឹត មានន័យថា ក្បួនច្បាប់ ឬ សេចក្តីដឹង ដែលពាក់ពន្ធ័ទៅនឹងចំណេះដឹង វិទ្យាសាស្ត្រ សាសនា ច្បាប់ និងទ្រឹស្តីអំពីជីវិត។ អ្នកស្រាវជ្រាវខ្លះទៀតក៏បានរៀបរាប់ថា សាស្ត្រាស្លឹករឹតមានកំណើតចាប់ពីសម័យអង្គរ។

សាស្ត្រាស្លឹករឹត ត្រូវបានផ្សព្វផ្សាយដល់ប្រជាជនខ្មែរយ៉ាងទូលំទូលាយ នៅសម័យកាលមុនៗ ហើយត្រូវបានប្រើប្រាស់ជាប្រចាំ។ ប៉ុន្តែពេលកន្លងមក វប្បធម៌សិលាចារឹក និងសាស្ត្រាស្លឹករឹតក៏បានរលាយបាត់បង់បន្តិចម្តងៗ ដោយសារអវត្តមាននៃការរក្សាទុក និងការចែកចាយខ្វះខាត។

សព្វថ្ងៃ សាស្ត្រាស្លឹករឹតភាគច្រើន ត្រូវបានរក្សា និងប្រើប្រាស់នៅតែក្នុងវត្តអារាមប៉ុណ្ណោះ ដូច្នេះ វាក៏មានហានិភ័យបាត់បង់បន្តិចម្តងៗ ផងដែរ។ បណ្តាលមកពីការរីកចម្រើននៃបច្ចេកវិទ្យាទំនើប ដែលរំពឹងឱ្យប្រើសៀវភៅ ឬវិធីសាស្ត្រឌីជីថលជំនួស។

សរុបមក សាស្ត្រាស្លឹករឹតគឺជាទ្រព្យសម្បត្តិបុរាណដ៏មានតម្លៃ ដែលបង្ហាញពីភាពចម្បងនៃវប្បធម៌ និងស្មារតីដ៏ខ្ពង់ខ្ពស់របស់ជាតិខ្មែរ។ វាអាចជាគម្ពីរសាសនា ឬឯកសារដែលរៀបរាប់អំពីពង្សាវតារនៃប្រទេសខ្មែរយើងផងដែរ។

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The Khmer Empire was one of the most glorious periods in Cambodian history. Due to the vast territory under Khmer control, it earned the title of the “Great Khmer Empire.” This rich history has been recorded and preserved through stone inscriptions and Sastra Slëk Rëet (palm-leaf manuscripts).

What is Sastra Slëk Rëet made from?
Sastra Slëk Rëet refers to ancient texts inscribed on palm leaves, specifically the leaves of the T’rang tree (Corypha palm). This tree originates from the eastern and northern parts of India and Sri Lanka. In Southeast Asia, the T’rang tree can be found in countries like Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar. In Cambodia, the tree is mostly found in Kratie and Kampong Thom provinces.

According to Samdech Preah Sangharaja Chuon Nath, the word Sastra in Pali and Sanskrit means “doctrine,” referring to knowledge, sciences, religion, law, and philosophies about life. Some scholars have stated that Sastra Slëk Rëet dates back to the Angkor period.

These palm-leaf manuscripts were widely shared among Khmer people in the past and used over many generations. However, as time went on, both the tradition of stone inscriptions and the use of palm-leaf manuscripts have gradually faded. Today, Sastra Slëk Rëet is mostly preserved and used only within Buddhist pagodas. As a result, it is slowly being lost due to the rise of modern technology such as printed books and digital formats.

In conclusion, Sastra Slëk Rëet is a valuable cultural heritage of the Khmer people. These texts, written on palm leaves, include religious scriptures and historical records that reflect the wisdom and identity of the Khmer civilization.

   Discover Traditional Khmer Archery

The Royal Archery Club offers a rare opportunity to try Khmer-style archery, inspired by ancient Angkorian warriors. You won’t just be shooting arrows—you’ll be stepping into history. From handcrafted bamboo arrows to traditional wooden bows, every part of the experience connects you with Cambodia’s martial past.

All skill levels are welcome. Whether you’re a total beginner or have tried archery before, trained instructors will guide you through proper stance, aiming techniques, and safety. Sessions take place in a quiet outdoor setting surrounded by trees, traditional structures, and scenic rice fields.

   Pricing & Packages

For short-term visitors, the pricing is simple and affordable:

– Foreign visitors: $9 USD for a 90-minute session (includes instruction + all equipment)
– Cambodian locals & expats: $5 USD for 90 minutes
– Group and extended memberships are also available, but casual visitors only need to pay the basic walk-in fee.

Many travelers report they were pleasantly surprised by the value. You can shoot as much as you want during the session, and you’re welcome to take breaks, walk around, and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.

   Easy Access from Sokchea Angkor Hotel & Downtown

Staying at Sokchea Angkor Hotel or anywhere in central Siem Reap? The Royal Archery Club is only a 15–20 minute ride away by tuk-tuk or car. Located in Steung Village, Prasat Bakong District, it’s easy to combine this with visits to nearby Bakong Temple or as a relaxing mid-morning or afternoon break.

Drivers can use this Google Maps link for exact directions:
📍 (https://maps.app.goo.gl/JJVVw3WYXFK35Z3n7)

More Than Just Archery

Beyond shooting arrows, the Royal Archery Club feels like a living cultural village. The site features:

– Traditional Khmer military-style architecture
– Homestay bungalows and a local café
– Opportunities to dress in Angkorian outfits for photos
– A peaceful atmosphere away from the city bustle

It’s the kind of place where you can slow down, take great photos, learn something new, and walk away with a unique memory.

   Add It to Your Itinerary

If you only have a couple of days in Siem Reap, you can still enjoy the Royal Archery Club without disrupting your temple visits or tours. Plan for 2–3 hours, and you’ll leave feeling refreshed, entertained, and culturally enriched.

Ready, aim… experience!
Include the Royal Archery Club on your Siem Reap itinerary and discover a side of Cambodia most tourists miss.